impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish 

: of, relating to, or befitting an imp

especially : mischievous

impishly adverb

impishness noun

Synonyms of impish

• mischievous
• wicked
• playful

Examples of impish in a Sentence

the gang of impish children ran into the street, utterly oblivious to the traffic

Recent Examples on the Web

Kutsuna has an impish twinkle; Yamada mutely swans about in a daze like an opium fiend. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026

Her new album, Fata Morgana, uses an array of cascading rhythms, impish hooks, and fierce poetry to interrogate her place in a corrupt American society. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026

His sponsors demand little more from the guy than an impish smile during television ads, and his press conferences for Inter Miami are few and far between. — Filip Bondy, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

impish

adjective

imp·​ish ˈim-pish 

: mischievous sense 3

impishly adverb

impishness noun